A promotional currency unique to Chemainus is about to go the way of the penny.
Chemainus Dollars B次元官网网址� which went into circulation in the mural town as a form of spendable currency in 2010 B次元官网网址� will stop being accepted, effective April 5. Anyone still in possession of them who wants to exchange them for cash must do so by that date.
The assets of the program are being gifted to the Festival of Murals Society, but Chemainus Dollars will revert to being only mementos of the area. Chemainus Dollars can be exchanged for cash by taking them to the Chemainus branch of Coastal Community Credit Union at 9781 Willow St.
The brainchild of Chemainus Festival of Murals Society founder Karl Schutz, was an additional tourism initiative for the community and the mural project, created in partnership between Schutz and Coastal Community Credit Union, the program sponsor.
Moira Hauk, Coastal CommunityB次元官网网址檚 regional manager for South Vancouver Island, noted Chemainus Dollars were created to help promote shopping and boost the local economy.
B次元官网网址淥ver the past ten years, people have started using different electronic methods of payment, moving away from cash-based initiatives like Chemainus Dollars. Today, this currency is mostly purchased by tourists to this beautiful area. I think itB次元官网网址檚 great that it will still be offered as a memento via the Festival of Murals Society.
B次元官网网址淧eople are using more technology,B次元官网网址� she added. B次元官网网址淚t felt like the time was right.B次元官网网址�
The bills have various mural scenes on the back.
A display of the program will be provided to the Chemainus Valley Museum to recognize the contributions of the organization and Schutz to the community.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e excited to take over this program and offer the beautifully designed Chemainus Dollars as unique collectibles,B次元官网网址� noted Tom Andrews, president of the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l use funds from the previous sale of the currency to help restore the local bronze statues B次元官网网址業n Search of SnipesB次元官网网址� located in Heritage Square. The program will also help us to sustain the ongoing maintenance and restoration activities of the society.B次元官网网址�
Hauk thinks the Chemainus Dollars will continue to leave a legacy as a collectible.
B次元官网网址淭here is a large community of people that collect all currencies, different money,B次元官网网址� she indicated. B次元官网网址淚t is of great interest.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e just going to give them out as souvenirs, for example, when people buy an official mural guide we might throw in a $1 or a mural book we can include some Chemainus currency,B次元官网网址� said Andrews.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a memento, a souvenir, which is kind of neat for tourists to take away.B次元官网网址�
No one is too sure how Chemainus Dollars are out there, how many will be turned in and whether many people will simply hang on to what they have now.
Andrews said anyone whoB次元官网网址檇 like more information on contributing their Chemainus Dollars can contact him at 250-210-2402.
